Lidl store plans set to be heard next month

SUPERMARKET chain Lidl could be set to open a store in Loughborough, it has been revealed. Residents have had leaflets posted through their doors inviting them to a public exhibition on the proposals for the store, which would be located off Station Street and Derby Road.

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A DECISION on whether a new Lidl supermarket is to be built in Loughborough is set to be decided in front of the Charnwood Borough Council planning committee.

A Charnwood Borough Council spokesperson told the Echo that the application is “provisionally due to go before the plans committee on Thursday, November 9” but that a final decision is yet to be made.

A planning application to build the superstore on land to the north of Station Avenue in Loughborough was first received by the council in September 2016.

And since then it has been met with mixed opinions, with residents, the Love Loughborough Business Improvement District (BID) and the local highway authority all objecting to the application.

The Love Loughborough BID represents more than 600 businesses in the area, and in March this year sent a letter to Charnwood Borough Council that said the new store would damage the “vitality and viability” of the town centre.

It said: “Sites outside town centres should only be considered if there is a proven need which cannot be met on a town centre site.

“We believe the borough council should refuse planning permission for this proposal on the grounds that it fails the sequential test and would damage the vitality and viability of Loughborough town centre.”

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The local highway authority of Leicestershire County Council also said that the application should be refused because if approved it “could result in the unsafe and unsatisfactory operation of the surrounding highway network.” It added: “Satisfactory evidence has not been provided to demonstrate that the impact of the development on the surrounding highway network has been appropriately assessed.”

Lidl UK’s regional head of property, Colin Rimmer, said: “We have received an incredible amount of support from the local community and are delighted to announce that we have submitted a planning application.

“If granted this would mark a substantial investment in the area, and the creation of 40 new jobs when the store opens.

“We would like to take the opportunity to thank everyone for their support and feedback so far and look forward to receiving the decision in due course.”

A Charnwood Borough council spokesperson said: “The application is provisionally due to go before the plans committee on November 9 but a final decision has yet to be made.”

The planning application can be found on the Charnwood Borough Council planning portal under application number P/16/2141/2.